Trombosonic

A new digital music instrument played with gestures and breath

The "Trombosonic" is a new digital music instrument based on the foundational principles of the slide trombone. An ultrasonic sensor combined with a red laser allows the performer to play the instrument using similar movements to playing a trombone to change the pitch, by moving one hand back and forth even though there is no physical slider available. Furthermore, additional sensors enhance musical expression by gestural movement of the whole interface and by using the breath. Due to its compact size and the lack of a slider, the Trombosonic can be played in many different ways.

Watch a performance of Oliver Hödl as soloist with the Trombosonic and the Symphonic Orchestra of the Vienna University of Technology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlUWFDoHJeQ

The Trombosonic also features in the official welcome film of the University of Vienna:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_BC9JPKyfo

Further information:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3672922
https://publik.tuwien.ac.at/files/PubDat_235353.pdf

Lego Grand Piano

A real playable Lego Grand Piano to be used as musical interface

Further details upcoming

TMAP Design Cards

Design of technology-mediated audience participation in live music

The TMAP Design Cards are a set of 46 design cards plus 3 instruction cards for the design of technology-mediated audience participation (TMAP) in live music. Using a card-driven design process is new to music interaction design. From a design perspective this card-driven design process supports finding ideas, changing ideas, and examining ideas from different perspectives.

Historically, audiences have had various ways to participate in live music performances, including clapping, dancing, swaying, whistling, and singing. More recently, mobile and wireless devices, such as smartphones have opened up powerful new opportunities for audience participation. However, design for technology-mediated audience participation (TMAP) can be challenging musicians and audiences have different demands, as does the coherence of the music, and group needs can vary widely. Thus, effective TMAP design requires the balancing of knowledge from diverse perspectives and must take into account the needs of diverse roles in creating and supporting performances. The TMAP Desgin Cards are relevant both to music interaction researchers and the broader HCI community. From a design perspective this card-driven design process supports finding ideas, changing ideas, and examining ideas from different perspectives.

Further information:
http://eprints.cs.univie.ac.at/6284/1/Pages%20from%202019_Book_NewDirectionsInMusicAndHuman-C.pdf

Breaking The Wall

Playful interfaces for audience participation in musical live performances

Breaking The Wall was an art-based research project funded by the FWF (Austrian Science Fund). It was the first of its kind lead by a technical university in Austria.

With Breaking The Wall, we explored how to use technology to involve the audience in music performances. We designed and developed different interactive systems together with artists using robots, smartphones and laser technology. These systems were deployed in a public performance in spring 2017 in the Kuppelsaal of the Vienna University of Technology, Austria.

Watch a short video of Breaking the Walt (two minute summary)

Another performance of Breaking The Wall happened at the Opening Concerts of the Ars Electronica Festival in fall 2017 in Linz, Austria.

Watch a short video of the Ars Electronica 2017 Performance (two minute summary)

Further information:
https://www.piglab.org/breakingthewall

Sparkling Instruments

Creating new music instruments with teenage school students

In cooperation with a Viennese school we developed 36 new music instruments with the students aged from 15 to 16. The students learned playful possibilities to interact with music and created them technically in the form of new electronic music instruments in a series of workshops . A closing public event was organized by the participating school students, where these instruments were presented to the school community and the public.

The aim of Sparkling Instruments was to bridge the gap between art and technology in school education. In this highly interdisciplinary context the goal was to improve the students' understanding of new forms of music making and increase their interest in STEM subjects such as computer science and physics, which are involved in the construction of digital musical instruments. A special focus is fostering the interest of girls in STEM subjects.

Further information:
https://www.piglab.org/sparkling-instruments

Sandra

A smiley visualisation of a drumkit for concerts with kids

In collaboration with the drummer and musician Franz Löchinger, we created two prototypes of a smiley visualisation for his bass drum. One prototype uses a customised LED matrix to fill the bass drum in full size. The other prototype is based on a square flat screen with high resolution.

The drumkit was customised for "Sandra - the speaking drumkit" (Original German title: "Sandra - das sprechende Schlagzeug") which is a show created and hosted by the musician and drummer Franz Löchinger.

Further information:
https://franzloechinger.com/drums4kids/